Kangaroo Valley

Australia

Kangaroo Valley is a small town two hours' drive southwest of Sydney, New South Wales. This article includes the related area of Barrengarry.

Kangaroo Valley is a fully enclosed valley at the inner edge of Shoalhaven and between the New South Wales South Coast and the Southern Highlands. It is an idyllic location, with a small town (population 900) that offers a historic suspension bridge, buildings and antique stores to browse. It is the historic home of the Aboriginal Wodi-Wodi people.

There are a good number of Kangaroos here (as well as Wombats), although this isn't really what the area should be known for.

Hampden Bridge

Hampden Bridge. Dating from 1889, this is the only surviving suspension bridge from the colonial period of New South Wales. The stone pillars tower over the river below.

Pioneer Village Museum Kangaroo Valley, 2029 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley, +61 2 4465 1306. 10:00 - 17:00. A historical village museum full of many authentic homes and buildings from the 19th century. $10 adults, $5 children.

Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, 179 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577, +61 412 288 923. Held in October with local and international performers

  • Golf at the Kangaroo Valley Golf Club - hiring a golf cart is recommended.
  • Fishing in either the river or one of the surrounding dams - freshwater licence required ($5 for 3 days).
  • Kayak down the Kangaroo River. Several places offer canoes and kayaks hire for about 2-hour self-guided tours. Rates typically include transportation to the entry point at Hampden Bridge and from the exit at Bendeela. The river has several rapids of grade 1 (in a scale of 1 to 6, grade 1 are the easiest) that make the trip exciting for beginners.
  • Bushwalk (hike). There are all kinds of bush walks around Kangaroo Valley. Get the "Walks Guide - Kangaroo Valley and Adjacent National Parks" available for around $7 at many of the shops in the area. Don't expect the walks described within to be well signed, and when they say difficult they mean it. They will however get you into some really beautiful spots.
  • Horse Riding, 24 Hillcrest View Ln, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577, +61 2 4465 1912.

Golf at the Kangaroo Valley Golf Club - hiring a golf cart is recommended.

Fishing in either the river or one of the surrounding dams - freshwater licence required ($5 for 3 days).

Kayak down the Kangaroo River. Several places offer canoes and kayaks hire for about 2-hour self-guided tours. Rates typically include transportation to the entry point at Hampden Bridge and from the exit at Bendeela. The river has several rapids of grade 1 (in a scale of 1 to 6, grade 1 are the easiest) that make the trip exciting for beginners.

  • Glenmack Park, 215 Moss Valley Road (At Kangaroo Valley village, next to the show ground, +61 2 4465 1372. A convenient choice for those staying at the village. $35.
  • Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park, +61 2 4465 1310. They are just at the entry point at Hampden Bridge. $35.

Kayak down the Kangaroo River. Several places offer canoes and kayaks hire for about 2-hour self-guided tours. Rates typically include transportation to the entry point at Hampden Bridge and from the exit at Bendeela. The river has several rapids of grade 1 (in a scale of 1 to 6, grade 1 are the easiest) that make the trip exciting for beginners.

  • Glenmack Park, 215 Moss Valley Road (At Kangaroo Valley village, next to the show ground, +61 2 4465 1372. A convenient choice for those staying at the village. $35.
  • Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park, +61 2 4465 1310. They are just at the entry point at Hampden Bridge. $35.

Bushwalk (hike). There are all kinds of bush walks around Kangaroo Valley. Get the "Walks Guide - Kangaroo Valley and Adjacent National Parks" available for around $7 at many of the shops in the area. Don't expect the walks described within to be well signed, and when they say difficult they mean it. They will however get you into some really beautiful spots.

Horse Riding, 24 Hillcrest View Ln, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577, +61 2 4465 1912.

The main strip in the town of Kangaroo Valley has a few antique shops to browse. You may find some of them overly twee, but then again there are those who thrive on such shops. Most businesses are cafes, pie shops and restaurants.

There is a pharmacy.

Most locals head to Nowra for larger supermarkets and general shopping needs.

  • Ampol petrol and groceries, 32 Moss Vale Road. Don't be fooled by the petrol station exterior. There is an entire grocery store packed in there; not just your gas station convenience store either. Best selection of groceries of any of the places in Kangaroo Valley.
  • Galeria Aniela Fine Arts, 261A Mount Scanzi Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577, +61 2 4465 1494.
  • Kangaroo Valley Olives, 110 Cedar Springs Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577 (Drive up Bendeela Road and then take a right onto Cedar Springs Road. Drive up the narrow lane to the top of the hill., +61 447 491 245.

Ampol petrol and groceries, 32 Moss Vale Road. Don't be fooled by the petrol station exterior. There is an entire grocery store packed in there; not just your gas station convenience store either. Best selection of groceries of any of the places in Kangaroo Valley.

Galeria Aniela Fine Arts, 261A Mount Scanzi Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577, +61 2 4465 1494.

Kangaroo Valley Olives, 110 Cedar Springs Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577 (Drive up Bendeela Road and then take a right onto Cedar Springs Road. Drive up the narrow lane to the top of the hill., +61 447 491 245.

There are various cafés, bakeries and milk bars around town, as well as a few restaurants. Check out the pizzeria - it's really good.

  • Jing Jo, 160 Moss Vale Road, +61 2 44 65 1314. Open from Thursday to Monday, it's overlooking the historic Hampden Bridge. Breakfast and lunch are modern Australian, dinner is Thai cuisine. Fully licensed.
  • Kangaroo Valley Pizza, 160 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley. A descent pizza place with some outside tables. Offering takeaway as well as eat in pizza. Also serving breakfast and coffee; the coffee is exactly what you would expect from a pizza place.
  • Bistro One 46, 146 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley, +61 2 4465 2820. Expensive but most delicious option in town. Free Wi-Fi. $25+ mains.
  • Kangaroo Valley Pie Shop, 2167 Moss Vale Rd, Barrengarry, +61 2 4465 1360. Apparently the best pies in the world

Jing Jo, 160 Moss Vale Road, +61 2 44 65 1314. Open from Thursday to Monday, it's overlooking the historic Hampden Bridge. Breakfast and lunch are modern Australian, dinner is Thai cuisine. Fully licensed.

Kangaroo Valley Pizza, 160 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley. A descent pizza place with some outside tables. Offering takeaway as well as eat in pizza. Also serving breakfast and coffee; the coffee is exactly what you would expect from a pizza place.

Bistro One 46, 146 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley, +61 2 4465 2820. Expensive but most delicious option in town. Free Wi-Fi. $25+ mains.

Kangaroo Valley Pie Shop, 2167 Moss Vale Rd, Barrengarry, +61 2 4465 1360. Apparently the best pies in the world

The Friendly Inn, 159 Moss Vale Road (Right in the center of Kangaroo Valley village, +61 2 4465 1133. Offers a wide range of beers and bistro dinner. An ideal place to watch your Footy game.

Mobile Phone and Data services are patchy in the town, and very sporadic outside.

Wi-Fi connections are available around town. Jing Jo has free wi-fi for patrons. The computer store behind the pizza place offers paid Wi-Fi.

Greenwell Point. A cute town on a beautiful bay. Worth a 1/2 day trip.